AAA says Philadelphia area tops state in texting tickets

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia metropolitan region leads the state for the number of texting-while-driving citations written during the first six months of Pennsylvania’s new law.

AAA Mid-Atlantic said Friday that 796 tickets were issued across the state during that period. Of that total, 355 total tickets — nearly half — were written in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware or Montgomery County.

The five-county region has about a third of the state’s population.

AAA requested data from the state and added information from Philadelphia police.

Pennsylvania’s law against texting while driving took effect March 8 and is a primary offense with a $50 fine.